Well, to counter that: the removal of my first and the insertion of the second in the same setting did not hurt at all. I expected the worst pain ever but it did not hurt at all. (Unlike my first time, which was painful in a way that was pretty close to what I imagine giving birth feels like. Also, I nearly fainted that time.)

I just got a Mirena! I am psyched. I would prefer not to use hormones, but I scared of the heavy bleeding and cramps that may come with the paraguard. After reading this thread I expected insertion to hurt but it was barely anything. I did not need a tylenol or local anethestic or anything. Maybe it's because a human has already passed through my cervix? This was my first visit to a new obgyn and I really liked her. Yay! No babies!

I have been having a lot of trouble with my Paraguard. My cramps are terrible. I am bleeding a lot. I started my period the 3rd of April and have continued to spot since then. Today, I was driving to my Grandma's which is two hours away and I had to stop to buy pain relievers. I drink butt loads of moon cycle tea every month which is expensive, but effective.

My boyfriend thinks I should get it removed. I agree, but don't know what else to go on. I have migraines so I don't do hormones. We were using condoms, but my boyfriend is enormous and uncircumcised. The big condoms we were getting (Trojan Magnums) give me terrible yeast infections and giving him no pleasure.

I have had my IUD for about ten months. I go back and forth about it. I want it removed because it hurts, but it was expensive (I should have told Planned Parenthood how poor I am instead of practically cleaning out my savings for it). I also don't want to take a pill every day, gain weight, or insert anything before having sex. Anyone have some suggestions?

I'm sorry, BrownieFiend. Are your cycles predictable? One suggestion is to start taking a NSAID like ibuprofen, 600 mg every 6-8 hours, around the clock starting a day or two before you expect your period. It's been shown to not only prevent painful cramps, but actually reduce the amount you bleed. Keep taking it until your period is winding down. Maybe it's worth a try for a few more cycles before you consider getting it removed?

Maybe it's worth a try for a few more cycles before you consider getting it removed?

Yes, if you think you can bear it for a little while longer, I would do that! I was in pain for a full year, now it's really nothing. My boyfriend also urged me to just get it removed because I was in so much pain and bleeding so much, but I wanted to see if I could wait it out.

Have you had a checkup to make sure it's in place properly?

If you are utterly miserable (and hugs! I understand!), have you considered switching to the Mirena? People seem to have way less issues with cramping and blood with that one, and it doesn't seem like many people experience weight gain. If getting PP to handle some of the cost is an option, do it!

I also don't want to take a pill every day, gain weight, or insert anything before quietly playing chess. Anyone have some suggestions?

Have you thought about the nuva ring?

It requires some inserting before chess-time but I used to be a fan of female condoms, which I always got for free first from my old nurse practitioner then from the clinic I get STD tested at. Not very sexy looking, but I felt like it felt better and if size is an issue with regular ones, it shouldnt be with these.

Also I dont think every location does this, but my friend got her paraguard for free from PP when she was unemployed, so definitely check out what low-income options they have.

I think my period is coming for the first time since I got my paragard. It feels like something is trying to claw its way out of my abdomen. Taking a shiitake ton of ibuprofen and battening down the hatches. Wish me luck y'all.

I think my period is coming for the first time since I got my paragard. It feels like something is trying to claw its way out of my abdomen. Taking a shiitake ton of ibuprofen and battening down the hatches. Wish me luck y'all.

Could my iud (mirena) be causing my lower-left abdominal cramps? These aren't like period cramps (haven't had a period or those cramps since getting it 2.5 yrs ago). I've had the cramps off and on for nearly 2 years. And sex often hurts in different positions, in that specific spot where I'm getting the cramps. I probably need to call my doc (like, today) because this is the 4th consistent day that spot has been a little sore. It's never terribly painful, but sore/uncomfortable enough to notice and keep me concerned.

Some additional background about my crazy effed up insides: I used to get uti's every time I had sex, no mater what I did to try to prevent it. I was convinced something was wrong and there was a better solution than the same medication every time so I went to mutiple doctors, but they all told me I'm simply more susceptible to uti's. This started before I got the iud, which didn't seem to have any affect on the uti's. So now (and for the last year or more) every time I have sex I take a pill (nitrofurantoin). I'm in a long-term relationship and I've been taking these pills (aka, having sex w/ the bf) 3 or 4 times a week for a couple of years. I hate taking this many pills for many reasons but if I miss one I'll get a uti. I'm also afraid the pills are just masking a bigger problem, like whatever is causing these cramps. I've expressed my concerns to 3 different doctors, but they've all brushed me off and almost convinced me I'm fine. What the heck is wrong with me?

I'm a little confused. I was wondering if any of you know about oral contraceptives vs ones "inserted" (i.e. nuva ring, Mirena). I'm wondering mostly about the side effect of both (if they differ) and if coming off of them differs. I remember feeling super shitty emotionally. Any body know if there's a difference?

I finally just got my Paragard reinserted (well, a new one, hah) 3 months after giving birth! Yay! I can't believe how much easier insertion is after having a kid. It barely hurt and only briefly, and I didn't have any cramping at all. The first time I was laid up on the couch with a heating pad the rest of the day.

I have no knowledge that would be of any use with regards to your problems, but I know for sure that the medical system knows fork all about these sort of lady problems. Literally, they have no bloody clue what's going on with us down there, especially if it's something vague and/or something that occurs occasionally. Don't blaim yourself, it's these people that probably try their best but the knowledge and/or research about woman's health is just backwards as fork, in my opinion.

I'm a little confused. I was wondering if any of you know about oral contraceptives vs ones "inserted" (i.e. nuva ring, Mirena). I'm wondering mostly about the side effect of both (if they differ) and if coming off of them differs. I remember feeling super shitty emotionally. Any body know if there's a difference?

In my personal experience, Microgynon 30 and the Nuva Ring drove me up the wall emotionally, whereas my Mirena doesn't affect my mental stability at all, despite the fact that there's hormones in there as well. Could it perhaps be that it's such a low dose, which is already present in the physical location where it needs to be active, instead of travelling through your entire gastro-intestinal system? Anyway, it releases the hormones in the most minimal doses 24/7 rather than taking a pill with a way higher dose at one pinpoint in time, so there's less opportunity for an artificial hormonal peak. That might make the difference as well.

This might be different for someone else, but in my experience, the Mirena is so much better for my emotional balance than the pill/Nuva Ring.

I'm a little confused. I was wondering if any of you know about oral contraceptives vs ones "inserted" (i.e. nuva ring, Mirena). I'm wondering mostly about the side effect of both (if they differ) and if coming off of them differs. I remember feeling super shitty emotionally. Any body know if there's a difference?

In my personal experience, Microgynon 30 and the Nuva Ring drove me up the wall emotionally, whereas my Mirena doesn't affect my mental stability at all, despite the fact that there's hormones in there as well. Could it perhaps be that it's such a low dose, which is already present in the physical location where it needs to be active, instead of travelling through your entire gastro-intestinal system? Anyway, it releases the hormones in the most minimal doses 24/7 rather than taking a pill with a way higher dose at one pinpoint in time, so there's less opportunity for an artificial hormonal peak. That might make the difference as well.

This might be different for someone else, but in my experience, the Mirena is so much better for my emotional balance than the pill/Nuva Ring.

My doctor told me the same exact thing. Since the IUD is inserted into your uterus, the hormones are a lower dose and are "localized." Personally, my body reacts a lot better to the IUD than the pill. I took Yasmin for two years, and now I have had the IUD (Mirena) for 2 years. But like everything in this world, people react differently to different things. The IUD might be great for some people, while it might be complete havoc for others. I had a lot of breakthrough spotting for the first 3 months. After that initial period, I have only had one "period" that lasted for three days. For me, the breakthrough spotting was completely worth it. I do not have mood swings like I did on the pill. I never cry, and while I was on the pill, I cried at everything. It was awful.

Sarahnorine, I would discuss everything in detail with your doctor. I loved how my doctor took me into her office and discussed all the options and which one would be best for me based on my history. I know some people say those more prone to depression may have some problems with the IUD. This has not been the case for me, thankfully. Stay away from "googling" IUD reviews..I still regret looking at what some people had to say.

I had the Paraguard since early 2008 and got awful cramps and long , heavy periods on it. I recently got it removed because my husband got a vasectomy, and Lard am I glad I took it out. My periods are no longer crampy nor heavy. I do think it was an amazing form of contraception, and I would have liked to have kept it, but it was really uncomfortable and my hubs was sweet enough to get neutered.